The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens occupy 47 acres of coastal bluff, canyon, and wetland two miles south of Fort Bragg on Highway 1, between the road and the Pacific. This is not a manicured formal garden but a working horticultural collection in a spectacular natural setting — the plant communities include rhododendrons, heathers, heritage roses, fuchsias, and native California plants, with the Pacific Ocean visible at the end of the main path.
The gardens are at their most spectacular from February to April, when the rhododendrons are in peak bloom. The coastal trail along the bluff edge looks down onto small coves and sea stacks, and harbor seals can often be spotted on the rocks below. The wetland section attracts a variety of birds year-round. Allow at least two hours; serious gardeners should budget a full afternoon. Open daily; admission charged.